Roxanna Saberi; Journalist and Author 2011

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,194
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Status
Completed
Activity Type
Education/Outreach/Engagement
Counties Affected
Becker
Becker
Project Overview

Roxana Saberi, a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, is a journalist and author. In 2009 she was held in Evian prison in Iran for 4 months. She has written about her experiences in “Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran”. She will do a presentation on human rights and her captivity in Iran.

Project Details

Event Dates, Locations and Attendance at each individual event:
March 29, 2011 – Detroit Lakes – 235 people attended this event

Partner Organization(s):Becker County Friends of the Library, Historic Holmes Theatre

Partner Organization(s) Contribution/Role in the Program:  Becker County Friends of the Library contributed $2,000 towards the speaker’s fees. Historic Holmes Theatre provided a venue at a 50% rental rate.

2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,194
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Measurable Outcomes may be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, pre-test/post-test, observations; Describe proposed end user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status.1. Attendees will have an increased awareness of human rights violations in Iran.2. Attendees will develop an understanding of what it is like to survive in adverse conditions.3. Attendees will have an awareness of an author/journalist who has Minnesota connections.4. Attendees will increase their knowledge of another culture.5. Attendees will become aware of Ms. Saberi’s book which was published this year.

Measurable Outcome(s)

A summary of survey results are:Please rate the quality of this program:  (Using 1-5 scale, with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor)

  • Not rated - (6), 1- (0), 2 - (0), 3 - (5), 4 - (12), 5 - (99), Average (4.81)

 What did you like best about the program?

  • Firsthand account (5)
  • The honesty of her story; clearly and interestingly (6)
  • Seeing her in the flesh
  • It was as informative yet informal and she made it so interesting and hard to believe at times
  • Speech - photos (2) - Q&A (3)
  • Window into Iranian life
  • She was a very excellent & down to earth speaker, with a sense of humor
  • Very good speaker (5)
  • Her presentation
  • All
  • She did a wonderful job!
  • Difficult to hear her (2)
  • The overall message regarding Human Rights

 What did you expect to experience or learn from this presentation?  Were your expectations met?

  • Conditions in Iran (6)
  • How she was put in jail
  • I've read her book
  • Yes (17)
  • Life in prison in Iran (3)
  • Iran is a fascinating, but also tragic culture
  • Incredible story
  • Info
  • To understand other cultures
  • Roxana did a great job
  • Lessons learned while in captivity
  • Very interesting program

 What other programs would you like to see offered at the library?

  • Surprise me, you do an excellent job
  • More authors (2), explorers
  • History, politics
  • Variety

 Prior to this program, have you ever attended a program at the library or sponsored by the library?  Yes (80) - No (37) How did you hear about the program?Program flier - 14Information/poster at the library - 29Information/poster in the community - 23Library newsletter - 5Library web site - 8Newspaper/magazine - 60Radio - 22Television - 5From library staff - 12From another person - 31 Check your age range: Birth to 5 (0), 6-17 (2), 18-54 (25), 55 and over (83) What is your zip code? 56560 (4) - 56501 (68) - 56557 (2) - 56585 (1) - 55901 (1) - 56554 (3) - 56514 (1) - 56567 (1) - 56554 (1) - 56521 (1) - 56470 (1) - 56528 (1) - 56524 (1) - 56573 (2) - 56544 (1) - 56578 (6) - 55108 (1) -56502 (1) - 56511 (2) - 56572 (3) - 56569 (2) - 56587 (3) - 58103 (1) Do you have a current library card?  Yes - 107     No - 12     NA - 3  # of evaluations received:  122

Administered By